Chapters
| Name | Marcus Iulius Gessius Bassianus Alexianus (od 221 roku n.e. Marcus Aurelius Alexander Caesar) |
|---|---|
Ruled as | Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus |
| Reign | 11 March 222 – 21 March 235 CE |
| Born | 1 October 208 CE |
| Died | 21 March 235 CE |
Alexander Severus (Alexander Severus), also known as Alexianus Bassianus was born on October 1, 208 in Emesa (present-day Syria) and was the last emperor of the Sever family. On the throne of Rome, he replaced his cousin, Elagabalus, who died as a result of a conspiracy. The reign of Alexander Severus marks a new period in the history of Rome – the crisis of the third century – almost 50 years of civil wars, invasions and the collapse of the economy.
He took the surname Severus when in 218 CE he was adopted by his 14-year-old cousin, Emperor Heliogabalus. In 222 CE Elagabalus, whose moral excesses and despotic whims made them very unpopular, was murdered on the initiative of Severus’ mother – Julia Mammea. In the same year, Alexander, who had already held the title of Caesar, was recognized as the Roman Emperor (the last of the Severus dynasty). Alexander was only thirteen years old when he officially took over and the actual rule was in the hands of his mother Julia Mammea and his influential grandmother, Julia Maesa – who played an important role also under its predecessor. It was she who brought Elagabala to the throne of Rome with the help of the 3rd Gallica legion.
Reign
Alexander’s reign, peaceful and composed in nature, was a time of prosperity and internal order. The irrepressible despotism of Elagabalus, which was the cause of his downfall, forced Alexander’s guardians – his mother and grandmother, and the senators who supported them, to apply stricter educational methods to the young ruler. As a result, even after reaching the age of majority, Aleksander was strongly influenced by his carers and advisers. They tried to change the country’s internal policy, sharing power with the senate, and taking away numerous privileges from the raging military at that time. The Senate, which had a façade function for its predecessors, has once again become one of the centres of state power.
The ruler’s advisers were led by the well-known and respected lawyer Ulpian Domitius, who was to raise the morale and quality of the social life of the Empire. Among his advisers was also the famous Roman senator and historian Cassius Dio, who, according to some sources, appointed the emperor’s advisory council with 16 senators. He was also to form a council of fourteen at praefectus urbi, the members of which were in charge of affairs in the individual 14 districts of Rome. In addition, during the reign of Alexander, excessive luxury and extravagance were reduced in the imperial court.
The young emperor, supported by a body of advisers, introduced monetary reforms. Upon ascending the throne, Alexander reduced the amount of silver in the denar from 46.5% to 43%, reducing the weight from 1.41 to 1.30 grams. Then in 229 CE in turn, he increased the amount of silver to 45%, which was a weight of 1.46 grams. A year later, he reduced the amount of base metal in the denar to increase the amount of silver – this was 50.5% and 1.5% respectively.
In addition, during Severus’ reign taxes were lowered, and literature, art and science were supported by the authorities.
In terms of religion, Alexander was considered a man with an open and tolerant mind. The story of Augustus mentions that Alexander was tolerant of Christians, as evidenced by Alexander’s order to build a temple dedicated to Christ. Ultimately, however, the sanctuary was not built, because the emperor was disgusted with the arrogant attitude of pagan priests. In addition, the emperor agreed to build a synagogue in Rome, in which, with his permission, the so-called “Severus scroll” (Codex Severi), contained the Torah.
